The Okage Mairi Touring Rally Executive Committee will hold the “Okage Mairi Touring Rally 2025,” a touring event for bikers with a goal of visiting Ise Grand Shrine, from Saturday, March 15th to Sunday, December 14th, 2025.
Official website: https://okagemairi.jp/
Background of the event
Now in its second year, the event aims to promote the healthy and safe recreational and social aspects of motorcycles and the preservation of traditional Japanese culture.
It also offers the opportunity to enjoy sightseeing on rental bikes.
Producer and motorcycle legend Satoshi Tsujimoto says, “Let’s join forces to visit Ise Grand Shrine once a year, like a New Year’s visit to a shrine, to express gratitude and prayer for daily road safety and to pledge to be respectful, good riders. We hope you will enjoy a trip away from your daily routine, fully experiencing the scenic nature and culture of Ise-Shima, Toba, and Higashi-Kishu.”
In 2033, the Shikinen Sengu (yearly rebuilding of the shrine) will be held, during which the shrine buildings and sacred treasures are replaced every 20 years and the Great Deity is transferred to the new shrine. To further promote traditional culture, the event aims to be held annually for 10 years until 2033.
overview
It is a touring rally that can be started from anywhere in the country and has as its goal a visit to Ise Grand Shrine.
Participants register online in advance and can depart and finish as they wish during the event period, and the rally has a simple system that allows participants to enjoy themselves, with prizes awarded according to the number of “likes” their travel logs receive along the way.
Participation Fee:
◎ First-time entry: (wooden tag, goshuin book, bib sticker, guidebook (stamp mount))
1) With Ise-Shima Skyline pass: Advance discount ¥5,600, participation in the current month ¥6,600
2) Without Ise-Shima Skyline pass: Advance discount ¥5,000, participation in the current month ¥6,000
◎ Re-entry: (bib sticker, guidebook (stamp mount)) *Only available to those who registered last year
1) With Ise-Shima Skyline pass: ¥4,000
2) Without Ise-Shima Skyline pass: ¥3,500
Ise-Shima Skyline Pass
Guidebook
Special Day
On Saturday, April 5th, we will be holding a “Riding Photo Shoot Special Day” where participants will be able to take photos of their riding. This is a special photo session sponsored by Clubman magazine, where professional photographers will take photos of participants’ riding scenes, which are difficult to capture on their own.
Classic & Special Bike Photoshoot
On Sunday, June 1st, a photoshoot event will be held where classic and special bikes will ride on public roads, which was a very popular event that was held on a trial basis last year. It is a special, private photoshoot event where a variety of historic classic and special bikes that you cannot normally see on public roads will be ridden on the public road (Ise-Shima Skyline) and their riding scenes will be filmed.
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What is Okage Mairi?
Okage-mairi refers to the mass pilgrimages to Ise Grand Shrine that occurred during the Edo period, involving several million people, occurring three times every 60 years.
There are various theories about the origin of the term Okage-mairi, but there are two main theories. The word “okage” comes from the idea of servants making the pilgrimage without their master’s permission, or children without their parents’ permission. The word “okage”
also comes from the idea of ”thanks to Amaterasu Omikami,” or the idea of being able to make the pilgrimage thanks to various people, such as those who helped along the way.
In keeping with this “okage” meaning of “thanks to,” this touring rally will offer special benefits to participants from sponsoring motorcycle-related companies, restaurants, souvenir shops, service providers, and other businesses in the Ise area, connecting the motorcycle industry, Ise area, and riders through a circle of “okagesama” (thanks to the blessings of the blessings) and creating excitement for the event.
Attention to Shikinen Sengu
The Shikinen Sengu, Ise Grand Shrine’s largest festival, is held every 20 years, during which the shrine buildings and sacred treasures are replaced and the Great Deity is transferred to the new shrine. 2025 marks eight years until the Shikinen Sengu. Starting with the first event in 2024, the event will be held annually until 2033, with the hope of attracting riders, a potential tourist demographic, and drawing attention to Ise City and Ise Grand Shrine in the run-up to the Shikinen Sengu.
Participants will also receive a commemorative stamp book and wooden tag made from materials associated with Ise, with the hope of promoting the preservation of traditional culture and stimulating interest.
A portion of the participation fee will be donated to Ise Grand Shrine to pray for the safety and prosperity of the participants and sponsoring companies of this touring rally.
